Al Qaeda planning new U.S. attacks; Laundry list of possible attack scenarios

CNN ^ | 09-04-03

[Brian S]

WASHINGTON (CNN) --A Department of Homeland Security advisory issued Thursday warns that al Qaeda is working on plans to hijack airliners flying between international points that pass near or over the continental United States.

A Department of Homeland Security official said most of the flights fitting this description originate in Canada, and that U.S. officials have been working with Canada over the past month to ensure it is improving screening and other security measures.

[My2Cents]

We're so vulnerable it's scary. I'm really surprised we haven't seen anything of real note since 9/1//01...but that, I'm sure, is because of intelligence and heightened security.

[El Gato]

One government official noted, however, the United States has no authority to require security measures of non-U.S. carriers whose flights originate outside the United States.

We could provide an F-15/16/18 or even AV-8 "little buddy" for each such flight originating in a place with inadequate security. See how long the passengers continue to fly on those flights. "Oh look Daddy there's an airplane outside the window. What are those long skinny things under its wings?"

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Pilots + sidearms = NO hijacked aircraft

What is so difficlut for governments to understand about this?

The Left is leading everyone to ruin.

[Joe Bonforte]

Sometimes I think the Dept of Homeland Security has Tom Clancy somewhere coming up with terrorist scenarios. Then they just broadcast whatever he comes with. That would discourage any terrorist out there who were thinking along those lines, since the perceived risk of detection would be raised.

[Prodigal Son]

We're so vulnerable it's scary.

We've always been. We always will be. We could spend 110% of our budget on trying to make things secure and there would always be a vulnerable spot and life would be horribly oppressive. Better to concentrate on taking the fight to the extremists.

At any rate, these jihadists are stupid if they keep trying to score an 'airliner' type hit. I'm sure there are groups out there who are not affiliated with al Qaeda that are going to try and pull a copycat of 9/11 at some point but if al Qaeda wants to be innovative, they should go for different things. I would anyway if I were in their shoes. Look at the blackout and how much that actually wound up costing the economy. There are so many ways to really hurt a country without even having to do the suicide bomber thing- I guess we're lucky they don't go for those types of attacks.

[Sam Cree]

And also maybe because of the thousand or so suspects that got rounded up after 9/11.

[alrea]

Terrorists may kill a few more thousand and stink up the economic recovery, but they will be hunted like pigs by a country that has reached the tolerance breaking point.

[arete]

Oh boy, another terrorism alert. I don't know how anyone even takes this nonsense seriously anymore.

Richard W.

[texasbluebell]

Examples of critical infrastructure listed as possible targets are nuclear power plants and other energy facilities, petroleum and chemical facilities, the transportation sector, water systems, and the food supply.

Many think that was already done just 3 weeks ago or so.

[Dog Gone]

Oh boy, another terrorism alert. I don't know how anyone even takes this nonsense seriously anymore.

I'm glad to hear the threat of terrorism is forever over. Thanks.

[marktwain]

I've thought about the "worst case" scenario that I can envision, which would be a geneticly altered disease with upwards of a 50 percent lethality. Of course, it would also be even more lethal to the rest of the world.

So, consider what happens in this worst case. 50% of the US population dies, which includes the very old, the very young, and the very crowded. The 50% that are left include nearly all the military and the most productive part of the population. They inherit a resourse rich land. They have a boundless and heavy hatred for Islamic fanatics.

Much of the Islamic world, already reduced in population by *more* than 50% (they don't have our medicine or sanitation), with the exception of our allies, goes up in flames. We don't care about world opinion. Saudi Arabia become Amercan territory, and we kill or displace those that are there now, to insure an adequate oil supply.

Most of the Demonrats are dead, and the ones that are left are thirsting for revenge.

The true era of the American Empire has begun, and the fanatical Islamics have brought about exactly what they feared the most.

Treat someone as your enemy and they WILL become your enemy.

I don't want this to happen, but I am not worried for the future of the world because of attacks by these terrorists. Yes, they can hurt us, but destroy us as a people? They truely are living a "fantasy ideology".

[Jorge]

It virtually impossible to protect all the potential terrorist targets in the USA.
We have no choice but to take the offensive and go after them anywhere and everywhere we can find them around the world.
Otherwise we will definitely be fighting them here in America.

Bush is doing the right thing.

[BobS]

Considering the situation in CA, I sadly think this state needs a major hit to WAKE UP!

[FairOpinion]

"The advisory includes a laundry list of possible attack scenarios, and says al Qaeda may be researching how to disseminate diseases and toxins by contaminating water and food, or aerosolizing an agent in an enclosed space."

===

I think this is a real risk. While we are all looking for them to hijack airplanes, they can just release some nasty stuff anywhere.

[My2Cents]

by a country that has reached the tolerance breaking point

Well-put. I know that I've reached that breaking point...in fact, I'm far past it. I think, I trust, a majority of us have. The whiny minority, the seditious, the treasonous, the poisonous, the cancerous, have obviously not.

[ladyinred]

Oh boy, another terrorism alert. I don't know how anyone even takes this nonsense seriously anymore.

I will remain calm, but statements like your make it very difficult for a lady to remain a lady! Shame on you arete.

[ladyinred]

Considering the situation in CA, I sadly think this state needs a major hit to WAKE UP!

What kind of thing is this to say? What is the matter with you?

[Flavius]

Canadian pilots with side arms?

Probably not...

[ellery]

I'm really surprised we haven't seen anything of real note since 9/1//01...but that, I'm sure, is because of intelligence and heightened security.

I'm not even sure it's that (although I hope so). AQ's history shows a big attack on us every two years or so (but of course, there have been plenty of major attacks overseas -- Bali and others).